LG VX4700
LG VX4700
The product: Nextel customers have long enjoyed push-to-talk, walkie-talkie service on their phones, but other handset manufacturers now are beginning to crowd this territory. At CES, LG unveiled its first PTT-equipped mobile, the VX4700. Running on a CDMA network and supporting 1xRTT data speeds, the VX4700 flip phone offers an oversize speaker for use with PTT and speakerphone calls. Other features are standard for a mobile, including:

• Voice commands
• Text and enhanced messaging
• Wireless Web browser
• Personal organizer features

The prospects: The demand for PTT phones will increase, and LG is smart to position itself in this business-friendly niche. The lack of a camera ensures that the phone remains basic but useful, especially now that many companies prohibit camera phones on their premises. We noticed the lack of multimedia messaging and Bluetooth, but overall the VX4700 is a functional phone.

By Kent German, associate editor, CNET Reviews